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From: john@moncol.UUCP (John Ruschmeyer)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc,comp.sys.tandy
Subject: Why no single density?
Message-ID: <437@moncol.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 10-Nov-86 23:56:07 EST
Article-I.D.: moncol.437
Posted: Mon Nov 10 23:56:07 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 15-Nov-86 05:08:28 EST
Organization: Monmouth College, W. Long Branch, NJ
Lines: 26
Keywords: Intel 8272a, FDC, IBM-PC, Tandy 1000
Xref: watmath comp.sys.ibm.pc:79 comp.sys.tandy:4

Recently I've been looking at ads for programs to read/write alien disks on
an IBM compatable. One thing I've noticed, though, is that none of them
support the formatting of single density disks (old Osborne I, TRS-80 Model
I, etc.).
 
Forgive a naive question, but why is this the case? Is there some
limitation of the disk controller in an IBM-PC which prevents single
density operation or is it some limitation of the BIOS?
 
Looking in the tech manual for my own machine (a Tandy 1000), I noticed
that it uses an Intel 8272A as the floppy disk controller. According to the
spec sheet, this chip is capable of single density operation. If so, then
why can't I find a program to use it that way?
 
Thanks in advance for any replies. If you know of a program which will deal
with single density disk, feel free to pass the name along.

-- 
Name:		John Ruschmeyer
US Mail:	Monmouth College, W. Long Branch, NJ 07764
Phone:		(201) 571-3557
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